After four years of decline, business expenditure on research and development (BERD) has increased by 18% to the highest expenditure levels ever recorded, in current price terms, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today. Human resource effort devoted to R&D has also increased by 5%.

In volume terms, with the effect of changes in prices and wages and salaries removed, BERD was 12% higher than in 1999-2000. The 2000-01 expenditure in volume terms is 5% below the peak level recorded in 1995-96.

BERD as a percentage of Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased to 0.72% in 2000-01, following decreases in the previous four years. The contribution remains significantly lower than the high of 0.87% in 1995-96.

All the major industry sectors recorded an increase in R&D expenditure in 2000-01. The mining industry recorded a 57% increase in R&D expenditure, reversing the falls of the preceding three years. Expenditure by the manufacturing industry increased by 8%, while the finance and insurance industry and the property and business services industry recorded increases of 91% and 12% respectively.

New South Wales and Victoria were the leading states in terms of expenditure on R&D; spending $1,699m and $1,686m respectively. Both States accounted for 35% of total R&D expenditure each. Compared to 1999-2000, R&D expenditure increased by $276m (19%) in New South Wales, $193m (13%) in Victoria, $79m (18%) in Queensland, $47m (19%) in South Australia and $136m (41%) in Western Australia. Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, in total, decreased by $11m (down 10%).

Full details are in Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia, 2000-01(cat. no. 8104.0).

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